Devon and Cornwall PEEL 2018

This question was not subject to detailed inspection in 2018/19, and our judgment from the 2017 effectiveness inspection has been carried over.

Devon and Cornwall Police needs to investigate crime better. A shortage of investigators is affecting some teams and there are inconsistencies in the quality and supervision of investigations. This includes circulating suspects on the Police National Computer (PNC).

The force is good at pursuing high-risk offenders and foreign nationals suspected of criminal activity. But the scrutiny over other outstanding suspects is unclear. The force is working hard to improve in these areas. An investigation standards board (ISB) is overseeing this work.

Officers and staff understand the importance of gathering evidence in the ‘golden hour’ after a crime has been committed. Body-worn video is used to help protect vulnerable victims.

Although the force needs to improve at investigating crime, we found a positive example of good practice. This involved using reflective learning panels where senior leaders review a sample of investigations. They do this with line managers and the investigating officer to identify ways of improving investigations and the service offered to victims.

Officers and staff understand vulnerability and how to identify people who may be vulnerable. They uncover hidden harm, such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery. They understand the nature and scale of vulnerability. Partnership working, from local to strategic level, is helping its safeguarding work.

When taking calls, force control room staff use the THRIVE (Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation opportunities, Vulnerability of the victim and the Engagement level required to resolve the issue) model of risk assessment. In general, staff were assessing risk well.

Focus groups with vulnerable victims are helping the force improve its services. It also uses feedback collected by the VCU. Workloads and supervision have improved in some specialist investigation teams. But it could do more to make sure improvements are consistent across all teams.

Most frontline officers and staff were aware of dangerous offenders in their area. But the force needs to do more to make sure the risk posed by registered sex offenders is managed well.

This question was not subject to detailed inspection in 2018/19, and our judgment from the 2016 effectiveness inspection has been carried over.

We have previously inspected how well forces provide armed policing. This formed part of our 2016 and 2017 effectiveness inspections. Subsequent terrorist attacks in the UK and Europe have meant that the police service maintains a focus on armed capability in England and Wales.

It is not just terrorist attacks that place operational demands on armed officers. The threat can include the activity of organised crime groups (OCGs) or armed street gangs and all other crime involving guns. The Code of Practice on the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons (PDF document) makes forces responsible for implementing national standards of armed policing. The code stipulates that a chief officer be designated to oversee these standards. This requires the chief officer to set out the firearms threat in an armed policing strategic threat and risk assessment (APSTRA). The chief officer must also set out clear rationales for the number of armed officers (armed capacity) and the level to which they are trained (armed capability).